BBC unveils brand new must-see dramas

The BBC has unveiled its next slate of drama programming in a trailer launched following the World Cup final on BBC One

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “When I took on the role as Controller of BBC Drama, I pledged to create drama that was unexpected, drama for everyone, and drama which experimented with the innovative and bold. I am proud that over the past year we have taken bigger risks than ever before, and developed a diverse slate of dramas which I believe stand-out in a crowded landscape. I can’t wait for you to see the finished shows which begin airing on BBC One, Two and Three this autumn.”

The BBC Drama trailer includes a first-look of BBC One’s landmark adaptation of Les Misérables by Andrew Davies, which stars Dominic West as Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo as Javert and Lily Collins as Fantine, alongside Adeel Akhtar and Olivia Colman as Monsieur and Madame Thénardier.

John Malkovich is seen as Hercule Poirot in Sarah Phelps’ upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders. Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes star in Jed Mercurio’s brand new series Bodyguard, while Idris Elba is seen returning to his iconic role in Neil Cross’ eagerly anticipated fifth series of Luther.

Ruth Wilson leads the cast of Mrs Wilson - a drama written by Anna Symon and inspired by the memoir of Wilson’s grandmother and her family’s complicated history. Eleanor Tomlinson and Rafe Spall tackle alien invasion in The War of the Worlds, a major adaptation by Peter Harness of H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi title.

Newcomer Tamara Lawrance leads the cast of Sarah Williams’ adaptation of The Long Song, set during the final days of slavery in 19th century Jamaica, while newcomer Nabhaan Rizwan stars alongside Paddy Considine in Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani’s contemporary thriller Informer.

The next BBC One le Carré adaptation comes in the form of The Little Drummer Girl, directed by Park Chan-wook and written by Mike Lesslie and Claire Wilson, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Shannon and Florence Pugh. Jenna Coleman returns to the channel in Jacquelin Perske’s adaptation of psychological thriller The Cry.

Toni Collette leads the cast of Nick Payne’s Wanderlust, a searingly, insightful and funny exploration of the relationships of a multi-generational family, as Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, created, written and directed by Sally Wainwright.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Killing Eve arrives on BBC One and BBC Three - a new high-stakes thriller starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, and Mike Barlett’s new drama Press, set in the fast-paced and challenging environment of the British newspaper industry stars Charlotte Riley, Ben Chaplin and Paapa Essiedu alongside David Suchet.

Finally, Michaela Coel stars in Hugo Blick’s Black Earth Rising on BBC Two - a thriller about the prosecution of international war crimes and the West’s relationship with contemporary Africa, and Jodie Whittaker is seen as the Thirteenth Doctor in the highly-anticipated upcoming series of Doctor Who from brand new showrunner Chris Chibnall.
Notes to Editors

Black Earth Rising (BBC Two)

Black Earth Rising (8x60’) is made by Forgiving Earth Limited, a co-production company of Eight Rooks Limited (The Honourable Woman, Shadow Line) and Drama Republic Limited (The Honourable Woman, King Charles III). The series is written and directed by Hugo Blick, and produced by Hugo Blick and Abi Bach. Greg Brenman is Executive Producer for Drama Republic and Piers Wenger for the BBC. The series is a co-production with Netflix and will premiere on BBC Two in the UK and Netflix will stream internationally outside the UK.

Bodyguard (BBC One)

Bodyguard (6x60') is produced by World Productions for BBC One. The series is Executive Produced by showrunner Jed Mercurio, Simon Heath for World Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC One. ITV Studios Global Entertainment manage international distribution of the series and Priscilla Parish is the producer.

Doctor Who (BBC One)

Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC America co-production. Chris Chibnall is head writer and Executive Producer. Matt Strevens and Sam Hoyle are the Executive Producers for BBC Studios, and Ben Irving is the Executive Producer for BBC One. BBC Studios are the international distributors.

Gentleman Jack (BBC One)

Gentleman Jack (8x60’) is a Lookout Point production for the BBC, co-produced with HBO. The series is directed by Sally Wainwright and Sarah Harding, and Executive Producers are Sally Wainwright, Faith Penhale and Laura Lankester for Lookout Point, Ben Irving for BBC One, and Francesca Orsi and Kathleen McCaffrey for HBO. The producer is Phil Collinson.

Informer (BBC One)

Informer (6x60’) is a Neal Street Productions drama for BBC One, and will air on Amazon Prime Video in the US following the UK broadcast. Executive Producers are Nicolas Brown, Sam Mendes and Julie Pastor for Neal Street Productions, Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC One, with Julian Stevens Producing and all3media International handling international sales.

Killing Eve (8x45’) is based on the Villanelle novellas by Luke Jennings. It is produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd. for BBC America, with Waller-Bridge serving as writer and Executive Producer. Sally Woodward Gentle and Lee Morris also Executive Produce, with Colin Wratten serving as producer.

Les Misérables (BBC One)

Les Misérables (6x60’) is a Lookout Point/BBC Studios production for BBC One, co-produced with Masterpiece. Executive Producers will be Andrew Davies, Faith Penhale for Lookout Point, Bethan Jones for BBC Studios, Mona Qureshi for BBC One, Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece, Dominic West and David Oyelowo. The series is produced by Chris Carey and directed by Tom Shankland. Delegate producer for Czar Film and TV is Eurydice Gysel. It will be globally distributed outside the US by BBC Studios.

Luther (BBC One)

Luther (4x60’) is produced by BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial production arm, and co-produced with BBC America. Executive Producers are Idris Elba for Green Door Pictures, Neil Cross, Marcus Wilson and Hilary Salmon for BBC Studios and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for the BBC. The series is produced by Derek Ritchie, distributed by BBC Studios.

Mrs Wilson (BBC One)

Mrs Wilson (3x60’) is produced by Snowed-In Productions for BBC One. Written by Anna Symon. Executive Producers are Ruth Wilson, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and Neil Blair for Snowed-In Productions and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

Press (BBC One)

Press (6x60’) is a Lookout Point, BBC Studios, Deep Indigo production, co-produced with Masterpiece, for BBC One. Executive Producers are Faith Penhale and Mike Bartlett for Lookout Point, Bethan Jones for BBC Studios, Nigel Stafford-Clark for Deep Indigo, Mona Qureshi for BBC One and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece. International Distribution will be handled by BBC Studios.

The ABC Murders (BBC One)

The ABC Murders (3x60’) is a Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited production for BBC One. The Executive Producers are Sarah Phelps, Damien Timmer and Helen Ziegler for Mammoth Screen, James Prichard and Basi Akpabio for Agatha Christie Limited and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC. Amazon Prime Video will be airing the series in the U.S. Endeavor Content will handle sales in all territories internationally.

The Cry (BBC One)

The Cry (4x60’) is produced by Synchronicity Films and written by Jacquelin Perske. The drama is produced by Brian Kaczynski and Executive Produced by Claire Mundell for Synchronicity Films and Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Gaynor Holmes for BBC One. The Cry filmed with the support of Film Victoria and Creative Scotland. DRG hold the distribution rights. Stuart Menzies and December Media are the local Australian producer and ABC is the Australian broadcaster.

The Little Drummer Girl (BBC One)

The Little Drummer Girl (6x60’) is financed and produced by The Ink Factory in partnership with 127 Wall and co-producers the BBC and AMC. Laura Hastings-Smith is the producer, with Simon and Stephen Cornwell serving as Executive Producers alongside John le Carré, Mona Qureshi for the BBC, Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang for 127 Wall, and Wonjo Jeong. Global sales are handled by Endeavor Content/IMG.

The Long Song (BBC One)

The Long Song (3x60’) is produced by Heyday Television, a joint venture with NBCUniversal International Studios, for BBC One. Executive Producers are David Heyman and Rosie Alison for Heyday Television, and Ben Irving for BBC One, alongside Andrea Levy and Sarah Williams. Roopesh Parekh is producer and the series will be distributed by NBC Universal International Distribution.

The War of the Worlds (BBC One)

The War of the Worlds (3x60’) is a Mammoth Screen drama for BBC One. The Executive Producers are Damien Timmer, Preethi Mavahalli, Peter Harness, Craig Viveiros for Mammoth Screen and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. ITV Studios handle distribution.

Wanderlust (BBC One)

Wanderlust (6x60’) is Executive Produced by Roanna Benn and Jude Liknaitzky for Drama Republic, and Lucy Richer for the BBC. The series is produced by Kate Crowther and was commissioned for the BBC by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and commissioned as a co-production for Netflix by Elizabeth Bradley and Alex Sapot, through a deal brokered by BBC Studios and Drama Republic.